Ways to Make Your Multi family Property Accessible for the Differently Abled

According to a study, almost 50 million people in America are differently abled. Recognizing the special needs of the differently abled, the Congress passed the Americans With Disability Act in 1990. However, in most cases, the act does not apply to residential housing, which is the primary reason why most residential buildings in America are still not designed according to the needs of the differently abled. Finding a rental designed to accommodate their special needs is an uphill task for differently abled renters. If you are a multifamily property owner, here lies a promising business opportunity for you. To make inroads into the untapped market, talk to your exterior and interior design renovation company and plan changes to make your property more friendly for people with special needs. To help you get started, the post lists some modifications you must discuss with a renovation expert offering multi family design services. Take a look.

1. Replace Stairs With Wheelchair Ramps

Wheelchair bound people often find it difficult to manage a slope of 1:16. Others cannot manage a slope of 1:12 for 30ft. To attract renters who fall in this category, replace stairs with wheelchair ramps made of wood, aluminum, or poured concrete. Keep the slope at 1:12 and the maximum rise 30 in. The width of the landing and the ramp run should be equal. The landing length should be at least 60 in clear.

2. Make Sure the Doorways are Wide Enough

Conventionally designed buildings do not have wide enough doorways to accommodate wheelchairs. To address this issue, make sure in your multifamily units, the width from the interiors to the doors is at least 32 inches. Replace hinge system on the doors with swing-sway style that open wider, therefore, allowing wheelchairs to pass through without hitting the door.

3. Replace Faucets With Single Lever Style

People with restricted mobility in their upper body parts such as arms, and hands often find it difficult to grip faucets, which can make showering an everyday nightmare for them. To make the task easier for your differently abled tenants, consider replacing faucets with single lever style that can be raised or pushed down to turn them on and off respectively.

4. Install Accessible tub or Shower Units

Standing for long durations on a slippery floor or lowering themselves into a tub for a shower can be both dangerous and arduous for wheelchair bound tenants. To address this issue, install accessible tub and shower units designed for people with special needs. Most tubs have a door and a seat where the person can sit to bathe or shower. These tubs, unlike their traditional counterparts do not have high walls, and the person does not have to stand on the slippery shower floor which helps avoid falls.

Conclusion

Making your multifamily property accessible for people with special benefits apart from helping you tap the vast market of differently abled renters will also boost your reputation as a responsible landlord. Discuss these measures with your renovator today to reap rich dividends in future.

Groot Ethkeens is a professional writer for the multifamily renovation and repositioning industry. He specializes in multifamily investment and acquisition strategies, rent optimization and market trends and growth.